Timing mechanism for egg boilers and the like



June 30, 1931. F. E. HUMMEL ETAL TIMING MECHANISM FOR EGG BOILERS AND LIKE Original Filed Dec. 11, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet l June 30, 1931. F. Egi-IUMMEL ET AL 1,812,256

mum uzonmxsu on EGG aonmas' AND THE LIKE Original Filed Dec. 11, 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 FredI/r l. Hummel John JfjVo'eZlz amnion:

auouucp; I

June 30,1931. F. E. HUMME'L ET AL V 1,312,256

" I TIIING IEOHANISII FOR EGG BOILERS AND THE LIKE I Original Filed Dq. 11, 1924 v 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 III/III] I I I// Iiv'edZ' EHumnwl 7010a J Noeih zinvantozs:

at the front of the appliance, this finger piece passing through a vertical slot 32 in the front wall of the casing 10which may be reinforced by a plate 10aand seating on the crosspiece 2664 as indicated in Figure 3. The finger piece has a depending hook bar 33 which has for one of its objects to steady the motion of the finger piece in the slot 32 through the co-operation of guide-ribs 34 inside the frontal casing wall. Finely-dotted lines in Figure 3 show the mechanism just described in released position, corresponding to the termination of the boiling operation.

In order to make the operation of the appliance automatic, whereby the eggs may be raised out of the boiling water after a predetermined. period without anyones attention a unique clockwork mechanism is employed and will now be described.

The clockwork mechanism referred to is contained, in the base 11 of the appliance, and consists mainly of a spring motor 35 wound by an external gear 36. The latter is operated by a sector gear 37 pivoted at 38 on the top plate 39 of the motor and having a lever extension 40 beyond the pivot. Full lines in Figure 4 indicate that the sector gear 37 is in a position where it has fully wound the motor; and finelydotted lines indicate the opposite extreme.

The lever extension 40 of the sector gear 37 drops to the bottom of the base 11 and passes through wide slot 41 in the front wall of the same to be fashioned into a bandle 42. The lever is designed to swing through this slot from its right-hand end to ward the left-hand end when to wind the motor, the sweep being limited by a stop 43. This stop is a lug positioned laterally of the lever extension 40 between the bottom of the base 11 and a segment-shaped ledge 44 forming the top of the slot 41. The base bottom is cut to match the contour of the ledge, and both are cut with a series registering notches 45 into a selected pair of which a stud 46 passing through the stopl3 is receivable. To favor such a setting, the stop is drawn inwardly by a. spring 47 anchored by a wire 48 to a bottom stud 4.9 at a central point inside the housing 11. By means of a handle bend 43a of the stop 1-3, the latter may be drawn out slightly to release it from a given pair of notches 45 and moved to a different pair. whereby the sweep of the lever extension 40 and in turn the extent of winding the motor are regulated. WVith the segment-ledge 44; graduated to correlategiven notches with periods of time for the boiling of eggs, it will be seen that the stop 43 will serve as a simple indicator to limit the activity of the motor mechanism to any predetermined. period of time.

The automatic connection between the motor and egg tray operating mechanism. will now be described. The hook bar 33 previously considered as allied with the egg tray actuator descends into the base 11, and is cut with a side notch 33a before it is tapered to form its lower extremity. Adjacent to the latter the frontal base wall carries a sliding latch bolt 50 advanced by a spring 51 to seat in the notch 33a of the hook bar 33 and thus hold the latter down. The latch bolt has a. side pin 52 in the path of a finger 53 carried by the sector gear 37 whereby the travel of the latter to finely-dotted position of Figure 4; will cause the finger 53 to strike the pin 52, thus backing the latch bolt 50, and wipe past the pin, as also indicated by finely-dotted lines. The finger 53 has a knuckle-joint pivot 54, maintained by a leaf spring 55, whereby the finger may break on the return sweep to clear the pin 52.

To operate the device, the burner 14 should first be in operation and a suitable level of boiling water had in the boiler 13. The eggs are then deposited in the tray, which is now in elevated position. and the finger piece 31 depressed all the way down. This will cause the hook bar 33 to first crowd and then receive the latch bolt 50in its notch 33a, whereby said hook bar is caught and the eggs located in immersed position. The handle 42 is now drawn to the left until it abuts the stop 43, previously stationed at a point corresponding to the number of minutes the eggs are to be boiled. This action does not of course affect the hold of the latch bolt 50 on the hook bar 33. sincethe finger 53 slips by the bolt pin 52 on the winding stroke, as previously indicated. When the handle 4. .2 is released it immediately starts on its return stroke, due to the unwinding of the spring. The return stroke is, however, regulated by the effect of a governor 56 on the escapement 57 of the spring'motor, whereby the return occurs at a predetermined rate. This rate is of course calculated in minutes to agree with the readings on the ledge 44., the governor being adjusted until the proper retarding effeet is bad on the escapement. When the handle 42 has returned to its point of origin the finger 53 will have impinged on the latch bolt 50 to release the vertical hook bar. The latter will immediately rise due to the pull of the springs 30 on the parts 26, 26a allowing the to be raised out of the water. Needless to say, the above operation will apply in the case of poached as well; also, weights may be suitably used instead of the springs 30. and an electrical heating device instead of the burner if desired.

here the operation of the appliance has been started described, but must be suddenly interrupted due to a mistake, a change in the order or some unexpected development, a device is provided to immediately release the spring motor by the simple push of a hutton. It will he noted that the escapement 5? I '5 frame 59 has an extension 62'beyond its pivot a. FREDERICK E. if 70 v I cause the escapement 57 toswing away from I Y j it a I 7 j and easy to place anywhere making it easy r, 1 i P f 9o l is carried bya spindle 58 supported by a ,operative on the driven stroke to eflect'the frame 59 pivoted onapostGQ. Afloorsp'ring' release of the latch. v 1 u v i I 61 normally presses theframe so as to urge In testimony whereof .we affix our sigf 1 V the esc'apementagainst its wheel 57a.f The natures; I I v-1 post to which is'linked a push rod 63, j -JOI- IN J; v headed by a button 64 outside the casing lO Y a i 1' ofthe appliance'at the right. It willbe obvious that pressure on the button 64 will its wheel 57a, permitting the summary release of the spring and in turn the raising of the eggs out of the water. by means already familiar. 7 1 1 V a The governor 56'isaweighted stem carried i v v bythe 'escapement57, and-whenthe latter 1 recedes as last explained, theweightof-the governorwill advance into a flanged'checkr plate 65 which will confine it .to prevent ers g I a u V ratio vibration thereof with possible harm v a o s 3 8a to the delicate escapement when the: spring; I v motor is suddenly caused to unwindias described. i I v.; I

An egg boiling or poaching appliance is v h i s g I p 25 thus had which iscomparativelysimplein I i construction, easy to operate and.selfcon.-, tained, in that it is complete and ready for- 7 operation without anyoaccessory other than the fuel connection. The device is portable to connect atanv point without extra fittings v or special installation. Its preferred square L a form enables it to accommodate the greatest number of eggs forits size,but.it Will be obvi w v p P a u V ous thatthe form ofthe appliance may be i V I 0d I changed without alteringits'usefulness Q it i 4 f F While automatioeggaboiling appliances have been entirely "restricted to restaurant, lunch room or lunch counter u'se. it will be p i v u i seen that 'thesimple, 'compact and independ T H f I i a ent natureof our appliance opensa new'z'field' v I H r v T v I of usefulness for it,".namelv, the household.

; As previously mentioned. the appliancem'ay be furnishediwitha gas burner asshownpor f a V i v I a v a p with a suita.ble electrical-heating unit. con 1 7 1 a Q i trolled by a handy switch." The special'ves 7 sel fort-he poaching of; eggs wouldl jof course I 55 the latter, a main sweep-arm normally driven be'furnished as an accessory to the. appliance f for handy depositon the tray 16 when de-V f v sired. j Y 's f r? Weclaimr V i 3 V l i A timing device'for an egg-boilemor the like comprising an elevator, a latch to detain" 7 s in one directionand manually-movable in Y '1 the opposite direction, a graduated segmental; I a

ledge to guide and indicate the movement of v the main sweeparm,.an accessory sweep-arm, v l 0 operative in advance of-themain sweepf'arm i" ;j I 'f V I .1" v along said ledge, a stop carried by the ace a I I cessory sweep-arm and adjustably engageable f T wi h Said ledge to limit the manual stroke of v f i the main sweep-arm, and a tripper for said a f- V a i, is latchcarriedby themain sweep arm and? 

